What is Secular Music: Meaning, Instruments & Famous Musicians

Imagine a vivid kaleidoscope of melodies and rhythms, where songs become the heartbeat of our shared experiences, echoing the tales of love, joy, heartbreak, triumphs, and the whirlwind of human emotions. To me, secular music is the vibrant tapestry that paints our everyday lives with tunes that transcend boundaries, evoking passions, inspiring movements, and harmonizing the symphony of our diverse stories, inviting us all to dance to the rhythm of our collective existence.

What is secular music?

In its simplest form, I would define secular music as music that isn’t tied to religious or spiritual themes. It encompasses various genres and styles that focus on worldly subjects such as love, relationships, social issues, personal experiences, and entertainment, rather than religious or sacred content. This type of music serves diverse purposes, including artistic expression, entertainment, cultural representation, and commercial success.

History of secular music

Secular music began to emerge with a desire to diverge from religious music. In the Middle Ages and Renaissance, troubadours and composers popularized secular songs celebrating love and adventures. The Baroque, Classical, and Romantic eras contributed considerably to secular music by composers exploring emotions and personal expression. In the twentieth century, diverse genres such as jazz, rock, pop, and hip hop emerged, reflecting societal changes and technological advancements, shaping the ever-evolving landscape of secular music.

Genres of secular music

Jazz and blues

Jazz music, born from a fusion of African American and European musical traditions, thrives on improvisation, syncopation, and varied rhythmic patterns. Blues, with its emotive 12-bar structure, serves as a musical expression of life’s trials, hardships, and personal experiences, often capturing the essence of human emotions in its raw form.

Rock and roll

Originating in the 1950s, rock and roll started a cultural revolution, characterized by its high-energy beats, electrifying guitars, and a rebellious spirit. This genre has diversified into numerous offshoots such as classical rock, punk, metal, and alternative rock, each embodying its own unique style and attitude.

Pop and disco

Pop music, known for its catchy hooks and widespread appeal, continually evolves to reflect changing musical trends and tastes. By contrast, disco emerged in the 1970s, dominating dance floors with its infectious rhythms, pulsating beats, and lavish orchestrations, captivating a generation through its vibrant nightclub culture.

Rap and hip hop

Rap, a vocal style delivering rhythmic poetry and storytelling, is the cornerstone of hip-hop culture. Hip hop originated in the Bronx during the 1970s, transcends music to encompass various art forms, fashion trends, dance styles, and a distinct urban ethos, becoming a global cultural force shaping generations and sparking social change.

Impact of secular music on society

Culture and trends

Secular music considerably influences cultural norms, societal attitudes, and trends. It acts as a reflection of societal shifts, mirroring the values, emotions, and experiences of a particular era or community. Through lyrics, melodies, and the artists themselves, secular music molds fashion, language, and behavior, serving as a catalyst for social movements and shaping generational identities.

Censorship and controversy

Secular music often courts controversy and censorship due to its ability to challenge established norms, provoke discussions on taboo topics, or push boundaries. Some songs and artists face censorship or backlash for addressing sensitive issues such as politics, sexuality, or social injustices, leading to debates about artistic freedom, morality, and the influences of music on younger audiences.

Satire and critique

Secular music serves as a platform for artists to express dissent, critique societal structures, and offer satirical commentary on political, cultural, or economic issues. Songs can act as powerful pieces for social critique, shedding light on inequalities, corruption, or other societal problems, sparking conversations and encouraging critical thinking among listeners. Artists often use satire and irony to highlight absurdities or contradictions within society, challenging audiences to rethink prevailing beliefs or behaviors.

Instruments used in secular music

Drums

Drums are foundational in secular music, providing rhythm and a beat to countless genres. They come in various forms, including bass drums, snares, tom toms, and cymbals. Drums add energy, drive, and dynamics to music, often setting the pace and creating the backbone of a song’s rhythm.

Harps

Harps have a long history in secular music, especially in classical, folk, and some contemporary genres. Their ethereal sound, produced by plucking strings stretched across a frame, adds a unique and often enhancing quality of compositions.

String instruments

Instruments like guitars, violin, cellos, and basses are essential in secular music. Guitars, especially electric ones, are prominent in rock, pop, and jazz. Violins and cellos contribute to orchestral arrangements, classical compositions, and various contemporary styles, adding melodic richness and depth.

Woodwind instruments

Woodwinds such as flutes, clarinets, saxophones, and oboes produce sound by blowing air through a mouthpiece. They contribute melodies, harmonies, and textures across genres, from classical and jazz to folk and contemporary music.

Percussion

Apart from drums, percussion instruments such as tambourines, maracas, xylophones, and congas contribute to rhythm and texture in secular music. They add accents, color, and diversity to musical compositions, enhancing the overall sound and feel.

Keyboard instruments

Keyboards encompass a wide range of instruments such as pianos, synthesizers, organs, and electric keyboards. They provide harmonic support, melodies, and a vast array of sounds across numerous genres, serving as foundational instruments in classical, rock, pop, jazz, and electronic music.

Famous secular musicians

Paul Simon

Paul Siomon is a prominent secular musician known for his influential solo career and as one half of the acclaimed duo Simon & Garfunkel. He’s celebrated for his diverse music spanning folk, rock, and world music genres, creating iconic songs like “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” “The Sound of Silence,” and “Graceland”. His music predominantly focuses on everyday life, personal experiences, and societal themes, distinct from religious or spiritual subjects.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, prolific classical-era composer, contributed extensively to secular music. His compositions encompass operas, symphonies, chamber music, and concertos that were often focused on secular themes, emotions, and storytelling, rather than exclusively religious or sacred content. Famous works like “The Marriage of Figaro,” “The Magic Flute,” and numerous instrumental pieces showcase his mastery in secular musical expression.

John Dunstable

John Dunstable, an English composer from the late Medieval period, is known for his contributions to secular music. He specialized in composing secular songs and instrumental music, including ballades, chansons, and motets, which were not primarily related to religious or sacred themes. His compositions were influential in shaping the musical styles of the time, particularly in the development of early Renaissance music.